Face plate



Nov. 5, 1946. w. R. SCHLAGE FACE PLATE Filed March 15, 1944 '2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

A Tram/2x Nov. 5, 1946.. R, SCHLA E 2,4m4s2 FACE PLATE Filed March 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- INVENTOR. 71 424 ATTOR v.

Patented Nov. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to door locks, and especially to a face plate for use in conjunction with the latch bolt housing of a door lock. The present invention discloses an improved and modified structure when compared with the structure shown in my recent Patent No. 2,327,070 entitled Face plate, issued August 17, 1943.

There are a number of different types of door locks which are mounted or applied to a door by the simple expedient of drilling two holes therein, one longitudinally through the edge of the door parallel to the opposite faces of the door and the other at right angles thereto, or crosswise through the opposite faces of the door. In the first hole is inserted a latch bolt housing containing a latch bolt and associated retracting mechanism, and in the second is inserted a spindle housing containing a spindle and rollback mechanism. In most instances the latch bolt housing is secured or anchored against removal by the spindle housing, as it passes through the latch bolt housing, but even so the latch bolt housing is provided with a permanently secured face plate at its outer end which is secured to the edge of the door by screws to further secure the latch bolt housing against removal. When the latch bolt housing is anchored by the spindle housing, the face plate at the outer end could be entirely eliminated, but it is employed nevertheless because it lends a finish or ornamental appearance to which the public has become accustomed.

The object of the present invention is gener ally to improve and simplify the construction and operation 'of face plates of the character described; to provide a face plate which can be permanently or detachably secured to the outer end of a latch bolt housing; to provide a face plate which will frictionally secure the latch bolt housing when inserted in a door until permanently secured by insertion of the spindle housing; to provide a face plate which will accommodate itself to any bevel which may be formed on the edge of a door; to provide a face plate which requires no screws or similar means to secure it in place; and further, to provide a face plate which is simple and cheap to manufacture, which may be quickly and readily applied, and which may be formed by punch and die operation from;

any suitable metal such as sheet brass, steel or otherwise.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings. in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a door, showing a latch bolt housing which is partially inserted in the door, said housing having a face plate secured on its outer end;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the latch bolt housing fully inserted and the face plate engaging the outer edge of the door;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the outer end of the latch bolt housing shown in Fig, 1, with the face plate removed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a collar which cooperates from the face plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a modification of the collar;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the front end of the face plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the manner in which the collar adjusts itself to the outer edge of a door when the outer edge is beveled.

Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing two modified forms of the face Plate;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the type of collar' employed in connection with the face plates shown in Figs; 9 and 10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the outer end of the latch bolt housing shown in Figs. 9 and 10;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the face plate shown in Fig. '9; r

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the face plate shown in Fig. 10; and

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are longitudinal, horizontal- .sectional views of the structures shown in Figs.

9 and 10.

Referring to the drawings in detail and partie- 7 ularly Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that a type of door lock is illustrated which may be mounted or assembled in a door by the simple expedient of boring two holes therein, one through the edge of th door parallel to the faces 2 and 3 of the door 'as indicated at 4, and one at right angles.

; tof the latch bolt housing and the hole 5.

When 'a latch bolt housing is mounted and anchored in the manner described, it becomes apparent that a face plate at the outer end of the latch bolt housing will be more or less unnecessary. 'Such face plates are nevertheless employed and, not only that, they are usually permanently secured to the outer end of the latch bolt housing, and in addition thereto, are secured to the edge of the door by wood screws. The only reason for employing a face plate at all is that it provides a certain amount of finish or ornamental appearance, and for that reason is demanded by the buying public.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a face plate of the character described which will not only fill the demand for finish and ornamental appearance, but also will serve other purposes hereafter to be described.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, A indicates a face plate having a square or rectangular opening 8 formed therein to permit the latch bolt 1 to be guided thereby and to project therethrough. Formed on the rear side of the face plate is an annular flange 9 and forming a part of said flange are a pair of opposed rocker members ill-4B.

Surrounding and cooperating with the face plate shown in Figs, 1, 2 and 6 is a collar (see Fig. 4) which is provided with an annular flange at l2 at its outer end, and a bottom section 13 at the inner end. This bottom section has an opening l4 formed therein which will register with the opening 8 in the face plate when the collar and face plate are assembled. The assembling of the two is accomplished by merely inserting the face plate in the collar in a position where the rocker members will engag and rest on the bottom portion l3. The flange 9 of the face plate is of smaller diameter than the interior of the collar l2 so that there will be sulficient play to permit movement of the face plate with relation to the collar or vice-versa. The flange 9, as previously stated, is provided with rocker-like projections II] which engage the bottom portion of the collar I 2. This engagement erves several functions. First, it maintains the flange l2 of the collar substantially flush with the outer face of the face plate A, and its second function is that of permitting the collar to rock with relation to the face plate so as to accommodate itself to the beveled edge of a door. That is, the outer edge of most doors which are properly fitted are slightly beveled, as shown in Fig. 8, in order to insure a snug.fit when a door is closed. Hence, if a door is beveled, the collar may tilt on the rocker-like projections of the flange 9, and assume a position flush with the beveled surface of the door. If the edge cfthe door is not beveled the collar will assume the position shown in Fig. 7. Another reason for providing a rocker connection between the collar and face plate is illustrated in Fig. 17. In that view it will be noted that the latch bolt housing B is disposed on an angle to the hole 4 in which it is mounted. This may be due to two factors. First the hole may not have been drilled at right angles to the hole 4 or, second, some types of spindle housings have adjustable escutcheon plates and if they are not properly adjusted the latch bolt housing may assume the angular position shown in Fig. 17. Hence,

no matter whether the outer edge of the door is beveled or the latch bolt housing assumes an angle to the hole Lthe collar I2 will automaticallaterally projecting flanges l5|5. These flanges form a seat for the face plate A (see Fig. 6) and after the face plate is applied it may be secured by bending the flanges 9 in under the flanges l5, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8; the collar shown in Fig. 4 being applied by simply slipping it endwise over the housing B.

In Fig. 12 the latch bolt housing is provided with punchedout lugs or projections Iii-i6 and the face plate shown in Fig. 14 is shown as provided with a pair of resilient arms H-ll perforated at the outer ends as shown at I 8-18 to snap over the lugs IE and thereby detachably secure the face plate to the housing, the collar shown in Fig. 11 being thereafter applied by slippin'git endwise over the housing B, or the face plate shown in Fig. 14 may be inserted in the collar shown in Fig. 11 and the two parts thus assembled may be applied to the end of the housing shown in Fig. 12 and interlocked therewith by snappin the arms ll-l'l over lugs l6l6 as shown in Figs. 10 and 16.

In Figs. 9, 13, 15 and 17 the arms l|l1 are shown as bent back upon themselves to form resilient fingers i9l9. These fingers center the latch bolt housing with relation to the hole 4 and at the same time serve to frictionally secure the housing and face plate assembly against removal. In Fig. 5 it will be noted that the same result is accomplished by providing the collar with resilient fingers such as indicated at 20-20. Hence the fingers may be mounted either on the collar or the face plate.

In actual practice, if the lock is to be applied to a wooden door such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the holes 4 and 5 are first bored by a brace and bit or like tool, and thus are round in cross section. The latch bolt housing on the other hand is square or rectangular in cross section, and open spaces M at opposite sides of the housing would be left if the collar and face plate A were not employed. Hence, before the latch bolt housing is inserted in the hole 4, the assembled collar and face plate is first slipped over the outer end of the housing. In doing so the arms will ride over the protrusions or lugs I6, and when the perforations ill of the arms [1 register therewith, they will snap over and the face plate and collar will be secured and will limit inward movement" of the latch bolt housing when inserted. The face plate A together with the collar will completely close the hole with the exception of the opening 8 through which the latch bolt extends and the finish and ornamenal appearance required is obtained, and as a limited rocking movement is provided between the face plate and collar, they will accommodate themselves to a bevel surface, if such a surface is provided.

The collar should be of the same diameter as the hole 4 so as to center the latch bolt housing therein. But even though the hole should be slightly oversized, the arms I! and the fingers l9 will center it, and not only that, but will hold the outer end of the housing against rattling and will cushion it.. Also the arms I7 and fingers l9 will frictionally hold the latch bolt housing against both rotation and endwise movement until the housing is finally anchored and secured in place by the spindle housing as previously described.

The form of face plate shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is known as a detachable type as it is held only by the protrusions IE and the spring arms H, and as such may be quickly and readily removed to change and repair as desirable.

lhe form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 is not detachable as the flanges 9 of the face plate are permanently bent over the flanges l5-l5 of the latch bolt housing; hence the face plate may be permanently or detachably secured to the latch bolt housing, and while these and other features of the invention have been more or less specifically described and illustrated, it is to be understood that various changes may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described and illustrated my in vention, what I claim and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A face plate for a latch bolt housing which is insertable in a hole in the edge of a door, means securing the face plate to the outer end of the latch bolt housing a collar surrounding said face plate and having an outer flange to limit inward movement of the collar with relation to the door, an inner support on the collar to limit inward movement of the face plate with relation to the collar and means for automatically aligning the collar with relation to the angle of a door edge when the face plate is inserted into the door.

2. A face plate for a latch bolt housing which is insertable in a hole drilled in the edge of a door, means for detachably securing said face plate to the latch bolt housing, a flange collar surrounding and supporting the face plate, the flange on the collar limiting inward movement of the collar with relation to the door, and means for frictionally securing the collar and face plate in the hole.

3. A device of the character described comprising a circular-shaped face plate having an opening formed therein to receive and guide a latch bolt, an annular rearwardly extending flange formed on the face plate, a pair of flexible arms one on each side forming an extension of the flange and extending rearwardly therefrom, a collar surrounding the annular flange of the face plate, and means forming a rocker connection between the collar and the face plate.

4. A device of the character described comprising a circular-shaped face plate having an opening formed therein to receive and guide a latch bolt, an annular rearwardly extending flange formed on the face plate, a pair of flexible arms one on each side forming an extension of the flange and extending rearwardly therefrom, a pair of rocker like extensions on the inner edge of the annular flange, a collar surrounding the annular flange, and a pair of inturned memberson the collar engaging the rocker extensions,

5. A face plate for latch bolt housings which are insertable in a hole drilled in the edge of a door comprising a circular-shaped face plate for the outer end of the latch bolt housing, a rearwardly extending flange on said plate, a pair of flexible arms one on each side forming an extension of the flange and extending substantially parallel to the side of' the latch bolt housing, means forming a detachable interlock between said arms and the latch bolt housing to secure the face plate against removal, a collar surrounding the annular flan e of the face plate and substantially fitting and closing the hole bored in the edge of the door, and a rocker connection formed between the collar and the annular flange on the face plate to permit the collar to assume an angular position with relation to the face plate where the edge of the door is beveled.

6. A face plate for a latch bolt housing which is insertable in a hole in the edge of a door, means securing the face plate to the outer end of the latch bolt housing, a collar surrounding said face plate and having an out-turned flange to limit inward movement of the collar with relation to the door, and a rocking connection between the face plate and collar permitting angular alignment of the collar with relation to the beveled edge of a door when the latch bolt housing is inserted.

'7. A face plate for a latch bolt housing which is insertable in a hole in the edge of a door, means securing the face plate to the outer end of the latch bolt housing, a collar surrounding said face plate and having an outer flange to limit inward movement of the said collar when inserted in the door, an innner face on said collar to support the face plate, and means for automatically adjusting and aligning the collar with relation to the beveled edge of a door.

8. A face plate for a latch bolt housing which is insertable in a hole drilled in the edge of a door, means for securing said face plate to the housing, a flanged collar surrounding the face plate and also insertable in the outer end of the hole, means limiting inward movement of the face plate within the collar, and other means for angularly adjusting the flanged collar with relation to the beveled edge of a door.

9. A face plate for a latch bolt housing which is insertable in a hole drilledin the edge of a door, means for securing said face plate to the latch bolt housing, a collar having an annular flange surrounding and supporting the face plate in the hole, the flange of the collar limiting inward movement of the collar therein, and other means for self-aligning and conforming the annular flange to the angle of a door edge when inserted.

WALTER R. SCI-ILAGE. 

